Trade Show Preview Military Hospitality, Foodservice Personnel to Converge at NRA Show The 91st edition of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show takes place May 22-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Military hospitality and foodservice professionals will be among the more than 75,000 attendees expected on hand to glimpse the latest products and services available from more than 1,600 exhibitors. The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel- Motel Show is the largest restaurant and hospitality industry trade show in the world and no other event offers more opportunities and business solutions, said Annika Stensson, director of media relations with the NRA. No matter which type of foodservice outlet you operate, you will find everything you need to make your business better today, as well as position yourself for growth tomorrow. More than 70 free education sessions will be presented by top industry experts covering priority industry issues, trends and challenges. The new Conserve Solutions Center, located on the exhibit floor, will be a one-stop-shop for the environment-minded operator, and the World Culinary Showcase will provide global food and beverage experiences. A plethora of activities are scheduled throughout the four-day event, including various pavilions offering demonstrations, exhibits and networking opportunities; educational sessions; and the exhibit floor, which will be open Saturday, May 22, Sunday, May 23 and Monday, May 24, from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and Tuesday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in Exhibit Hall Level 3. Approximately 75,000 attendees are expected to walk the show floor during exhibit hall hours from Saturday, May 22 through Tuesday, May 25. NRA Show offers unparalleled opportunities to learn from recognized industry experts, said Ira Cohn, convention chair for NRA Show 2010 and president of Aramark Business and Industry Group. From staff motivation to word-of-mouth marketing, choosing greener solutions to menu development, our 70 education sessions will cover how to succeed in all aspects of restaurant operations. Highlights of this year s education sessions include Greener is Better! on Saturday, May 22 from 10-11:30 a.m. Leading restaurateurs on the cutting-edge of green operations will provide tools and resources to choose a more sustainable future through the NRA Conserve s green recognition program. EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS Educational sessions will focus on a range of topics, including menu trends, environmental sustainability, workforce development and profit building. Keeping up with the latest trends, success strategies and innovations is crucial to building profits and controlling costs in any restaurant, and the Military food and beverage professionals will observe the latest products and services available from more than 1,600 exhibitors at the 91st NRA Show. 14 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY JUNE 2010
Military foodservice professionals are encouraged to attend a session called Menus 2010: Turn Trends into Money Makers, also on Sunday, May 23 from 10-11:30 a.m. Nancy Kruse, menu trends expert and president, The Kruse Co., will present a fast-paced review of flavor, freshness and other menu essentials that will help operators thrive in today s quickly changing environment. On the same day, from noon to 1:30, Enhancing the Safety of Fresh Produce features leaders from the Center for Produce Safety and the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement who will focus on recent scientist and regulator collaborations to help attendees understand the latest fresh fruit and vegetable findings and apply the lessons to their produce supply chain. A session of note on Monday, May 24, entitled Are Sourcing Local and Sustainable Food Mutually Exclusive? runs from 2-3:30 p.m. Attendees will learn what buying local means to their operation and our planet, and the challenges faced in sourcing both local and organic. Chef Chris Koetke, dean, School of Culinary Arts, Kendall College, will be joined by Rick Bayless, chef-restaurateur, author and television personality, and Steve Schimoler, chef-restaurateur and innovator, for the discussion. SPECIAL EVENTS A variety of special events will take place during the NRA Show. The International Wine, Spirits and Beer (IWSB) Event will be held in conjunction with the NRA Show from May 23-24 in the Grand Ballroom, Level 1, South Hall at McCormick Place. Show hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The IWSB is one of the only alcoholic beverage events exclusively focused on restaurant and hospitality alcoholic beverage sales, and will offer vintner, distiller and brewer tastings, as well as demonstrations and education programs. The show will provide restaurant and hospitality professionals with the information, services and products they will need to grow bar sales and profits. New this year, the World Culinary Showcase will feature free interactive culinary demonstrations presented by top chefs and restaurateurs from 16 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY JUNE 2010
AFNAFPO Contractors Discounts AccuTemp 3031 5 percent American Food Service 3761 3 percent American Metalcraft 4224 5 percent Americo 5062 5 percent Anchor Glass 6825 5 percent Babco Bingo 3262 5 percent Babco International 3262 5 percent Babco Linens (Regal) 1859 5 percent Big John 5024 5 percent Broaster Co. 5637 5 percent Cambro 3200 3 percent Carlisle 1012 5 percent Celebrity Systems N/A 5 percent Cintas 2309 10 percent CMark International N/A 5 percent Cookshack 1585 5 percent Forbes 3262 5 percent Gasser Chair Co. 4038 3 percent Gold Medal 1263 5 percent Gourmet Display 6457 5 percent Groen N/A 5 percent Harbour House 4049 5 percent Hatco 2408 5 percent Hobart 3634/3637 3 percent Hollowick Inc. 5754 5 percent Homer Laughlin China 3224 5 percent International Patterns 3262 5 percent Janus Computerized Displays N/A 5 percent J-Tech N/A 5 percent Lancaster Colony 3262 5 percent Lang 3900 3 percent Libbey 2400 5 percent Lincoln Food Service 3000 5 percent Manitowoc 2800 5 percent Midwest Folding Tables 3262 5 percent Trade Show Preview Many firms that do business with the U.S. military through contracts with the Air Force Nonappropriated Fund Purchasing Office (AFNAFPO) will again offer discounts on purchases made at the National Restaurant Association, Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show, scheduled to be held May 22-25. A list of the 2010 discount offers, as of press time, appears below. Motion Technology 2489 10 percent New Chef 3458 10 percent Oneida Ltd 5815 5 percent Pasco N/A 10 percent Perlick 2812 5 percent Randell N/A 5 percent Scotsman Ice Systems 3638 5 percent Sharp Electronics 4739 5 percent Snap Drape 3531 5 percent Southern Aluminum 1901 5 percent Superior Linen N/A 10 percent Traulsen 3931 3 percent True 4400/4600 2 percent Uniform Wizard N/A 2 percent Vollrath 3641 5 percent Vulcan-Hart 3631 5 percent around the world. The Technology Pavilion hosts special demonstrations, education sessions and exhibits focusing on restaurant pointof-sale (POS) systems, wireless technologies, inventory control, customer relationship management and more. The Kitchen Innovations Pavilion showcases the most innovative commercial kitchen equipment from around the world as judged by an independent panel of experts, including food facility consultants, multi-unit executives and leading designers. MCH JUNE 2010 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY 17